Lake Forest fighter scores early victory

Rachael Cummins, bottom, fights to lock in an armbar submission against Michele Gutierrez in the first round of Friday's BAMMA USA's Badbeat 11 at Commerce Casino. VICTOR M. POSADAS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Lake Forest's Rachael Cummins, middle, taunts her opponent, Michele Gutierrez, after making her tap out in the first round of Friday's BAMMA USA's Badbeat 11 at Commerce Casino. Referee Mike Beltran, left, had to break the two apart. VICTOR M. POSADAS, FOR THE REGISTER

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Lake Forest's Rachael Cummins celebrates after defeating Michele Gutierrez in the first round of Friday's BAMMA USAs Badbeat 11 at Commerce Casino. Cummins defeated Gutierrez, by way of arm bar submission, in the first professional female bout in BAMMA USA history. VICTOR M. POSADAS, FOR THE REGISTER

Cummins, spurred by what she described as “disrespectful comments” by Gutierrez about her on Twitter, disposed of the veteran fighter in a flyweight bout in 32 seconds to win the first-ever female fight in BAMMA USA history Friday at Badbeat 11 at the Commerce Casino.

“I love being the first of anything,” said the Lake Forest fighter. “I knew I could get rid of her early. The goal was to finish in 30 seconds.”

Cummins, 28, pressured Gutierrez early, landing some quick strikes. With Gutierrez pinned against the cage, Cummins took her to the mat and attempted a triangle choke. It slipped, but Cummins grabbed Gutierrez’s right arm and inserted an armbar. Seconds later, Gutierrez tapped out.

Immediately after releasing her grip, Cummins yelled at Gutierrez, forcing the referee to break them apart.

“Yesterday at the weigh-ins, she was very disrespectful. I wanted her to eat her words,” Cummins said. “Who’s laughing now?”

After losing her first professional fight, Cummins, who trains at Reign Gym in Lake Forest, has now won two consecutive bouts to improve to 2-1. Her previous victory was on June 6 when she submitted Maia Kahaunaele of Victorville with an armbar with 59 seconds left in the second round at The Hangar at the OC Fairgrounds.

For Gutierrez, who trains in San Diego, the loss was her fourth straight as she drops to 3-5.

Cummins, a University High (Irvine) graduate, dedicated the victory to former Tuff-N-Uff promoter Barry Meyer, who committed suicide last week.

“I fought for him as an amateur,” said a teary Cummins. “He was a really nice guy. He was close with everyone and helped me get my career started.”

Cummins said she does not know when or where her next fight will be, but said she might be on another BAMMA USA card in January.

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